Hot topics in November

Drone’s eye view

EDITIORIAL STAFF LASLO SEYDA, SARA MOUSLY

The middle distance perspective is what makes these pictures so special. They show majestic expanses and magical details in the same shot. In this trip around the world seen from the sky, photographers introduce their favorite drone photos

Photographer Nansen Weber: “I often explore north of the Arctic Circle. One of my favorite spots is Somerset Island in Northern Canada. Every summer up to 2000 belugas congregate here, blowing, whistling and squeaking. I would not have been able to get as close in a helicopter or plane.”

Photographer Stefan Forster: “It rarely rains in the Namib Desert. I made six trips in the blistering heat until I found a thunderstorm. Then, finally, I got my shot: rain in one of the driest regions of the earth.”

Photographer Max Seigal: “This was my first time visiting the Na Pali coast of Kauai and I was on a boat. This shot wasn’t planned, but with every meter the immense beauty of the location with the high mountains, the rugged coastline and the big waves was revealed. Beauty that is visible only from a certain perspective.”

Photographer Han Bing Wan: “Where I come from, the province of Xinjiang, we admire poplars. They are a symbol of life, they survive droughts, severe frost and the saltiest soils – they are a miracle of creation. When I fly over their yellow foliage with my drone, with the turquoise-colored Tarim River in the background and the luminous white desert sand, it is like seeing the world through God’s eyes.”

Photographer: Stefan Forster: “You cannot grasp the sheer size of Perito Moreno from the ground. To show the glacier in its true size I had to lug my 10-kilogram Octocopter through a kilometer of undergrowth at the heart of the national park. The rangers were not amused.”

Photographer Shoayb Khattab: “As an architect I tend to see the world in two dimensions. I was fascinated by the idea of showing the camels at the Al-Marmoum race from above, with only their shadows really visible. My only fear was that the drone would disturb one of the valuable animals.”

Photographer Jerome Courtial: “Sigiriya is world-famous but there are hardly any pictures of the ruined fortress on the rocks. To capture its incredible beauty I had to get there hours before the tourists arrived, launch the drone from the thick jungle and then take it to a height of 400 meters. It was worth it!”

Photographer Max Seigal: “Utah’s hinterland is pristine, remote, and everything photographers and climbers dream of. Friends were establishing a new route here. To get the best shot, I had to get close to the cliff, without GPS, which was difficult. But it was child’s play compared to the climbing.”

Foto: Boothee Thaik Htun: “I have always wanted to photograph the Shwedagon Pagoda at night, when the gold-
plated stupa and thousands of diamonds, rubies, and sapphires shine over the city. The next day, the police confiscated my gear for two weeks, for security reasons. Now, there is a ban on drones at the pagoda site.”

PhotographerStefan Forster: “I have often been to Iceland, and every time the weather ruined things for me. On this photo tour I struck lucky: We drove up into the snowy highlands in a super-jeep and found this magical lake. What you can’t see is that the strong magnetic fields there made it very difficult to control the drone.”